Abstract: A damming device for forming a liquid-damming protective bank comprises at least one first board (1), in the active state laying, intended to be urged by the liquid against the surface and thereby anchoring the device, as well as at least a second board (2), in the active state up-right, intended to dam the liquid. There are liquid-draining means (5) on the bottom side of the anchoring board (1). Devices (9, 9′) act between the two boards (1, 2) with the purpose of inhibiting tilting of the damming board (2) from the active position in the direction towards the dry the side, when liquid simultaneously affects the anchoring board (1) with a vertical force and the damming board (2) with a horizontal force.

Abstract: A portable levee system includes a bag having a preselected geometric shape. The bag is continuous in that it has a length at least equal to its width, and is preferably many times as long. A top portion of the bag is open for receiving fill material. A preferred geometric shape is a trapezoid. The bag is removably mounted to a dispenser and the dispenser dispenses the bag from a rear portion of the dispenser. A preferred dispenser is towed behind a tractor or truck and the bag is filled within the dispenser and deposited onto the ground. A method of providing a portable levee is taught wherein a levee is created in a fraction of the time required to build an equivalently-sized levee utilizing current emergency levee construction systems.

Abstract: The riparian improvement structure unit for use in construction work for water control and protection is composed of the first tubular member and a plurality of stick-and-twig members tied in a bundle with a bundling member, the first tubular member being formed with a plurality of holes through which to allow fresh water with dissolved oxygen present in water flowing through the first tubular member to pass into spaces and gaps formed within the plurality of the stick-and-twig members. The riparian improvement structure unit may have the second tubular member disposed along and in parallel to the first tubular member and tied together with the first tubular member and the plural stick-and-twig members in a bundle with the bundling member. The riparian improvement structure units are laid on a riverbed or a bottom of a riparian area along or in parallel to a flow of water so as to allow water to flow and pass through and within the riparian improvement structure units.

Abstract: A detention filter system for the temporary accumulation and storage of storm water runoff is disclosed for limiting the rate of runoff from a developed tract of land to no more than that which was naturally discharged from the same tract when in its prior undeveloped state. The system includes one or more conventional rip rap filled gabion boxes which may be aligned end-to-end along the edge of a developed parcel of real estate so that storm water can run off into the boxes and temporarily accumulate therein. The system also includes a sheet of porous fabric or perforated sheet, attached to and covering a surface of the gabion boxes to restrict the rate of flow of storm water runoff flowing through the boxes and the sheet to a downstream storm drain, storm sewer or stream. The sheet may be formed of two or more layers of the porous fabric or perforated sheet.

Abstract: A flexible membrane dam is provided which can be installed easily and in which a concentration of stress at a time the dam is made to stand is less than in conventional structures. Mounting hardware for the dam is also provided. When a fluid such as air is supplied to an interior of a flexible membrane, the flexible membrane inflates and stands, and tension acts on the flexible membrane . At inclined surface portions, a vicinity of an outer peripheral edge of the flexible membrane is, in a convex and concave shape, nipped and fixed between an upper pressing hardware and a lower pressing hardware . At the upper pressing hardware, a ratio (AE1/AE1′)×100 of a length AE1 from a point E1 of a concave portion to a point A, to a length AE1′ from a point E1′ of a convex portion to the point A, is 85 or more. Namely, the length AE1′ is close to the length AE1.

Abstract: A modular dike is used to divide a body of water into two distinct parts. The modular dike uses a plurality of floatable modules. Each module is floated into the body of water and sunk at predetermined locations in the body of water. The modules are aligned in a row within the body of water so that the row of modules forms a dike which effectively segregates the body of water into two distinct parts.

Abstract: A barrier having a fluid-fillable body made of a non-rigid sheet material, a plurality of planar support members within the body for maintaining a desired shape of the barrier and a port for introducing fluid into the barrier.

Abstract: The Silt terrace erosion prevention inventions called STEP, is directed to a low cost process to reverse soil erosion in a farm field by retaining the silt in a natural watercourse to form grassy terraces behind a series of dam structures built with dirt-filled, non-biodegradable, plastic sacks arranged across the bed of the gully in a “V” shape pointing upstream.

Abstract: A flood control barrier for separating water in a wet area from an area to be maintained substantially dry comprises a flexible exterior membrane made of liquid impervious material and including elongated upper and lower membrane sections joined at a closed longitudinal downstream end of the exterior membrane opposed to an open longitudinal upstream end thereof. The upper and lower membrane sections are connected by internal partition walls and are displaceable between expanded and collapsed positions, wherein in the collapsed position, the upper membrane section overlies the lower membrane section, whereas in the expanded position, the upper membrane section is spaced from the lower membrane section at the open end of the exterior membrane such that water may flow through the open end and be received between the upper and lower membrane sections such as to be trapped therein, i.e. by the closed downstream end thereof which prevents the water from flowing past the barrier.

Abstract: A system for protecting a coastal land from a rise of the surface of the sea, wherein offshore dams and caissons containing pump-turbines are provided in such a manner that the caissons and dams extend in parallel with the coastline of the land. Partition dams are provided so as to connect the offshore dams and the coastline together to make ponds. The water level of each pond is kept lower than a preset level, which is several meters lower than an average level of the surface of the ocean, by an operation of the pump-turbines and avoiding not only the submergence of the coastal land due to the rise in the sea level caused by global warming, but also expanding the area of offshore land.

Abstract: The present invention provides a movable water-protection apparatus capable of reliably driving a water barrier plate manually or automatically when needed, without an excessive driving power and installation space for the water barrier plate. Specifically, the movable water-protection apparatus includes a water barrier plate (2, 50) for shutting out water, such as seawater, river water, and rainwater, likely to intrude into a basement (G) and a driving device for driving the water barrier plate (2, 50) upward from an underground position along a guide device (10) or a side plate (60). The water barrier plate (2, 50) is disposed in an underground space at an entrance of the basement (G). The driving device has a water pressure type piston/cylinder unit (20) to which service water is supplied.

Abstract: A detention filter system for the temporary accumulation and storage of storm water runoff is disclosed for limiting the rate of runoff from a developed tract of land to no more than that which was naturally discharged from the same tract when in its prior undeveloped state. The system includes one or more conventional rip rap filled gabion boxes which may be aligned end-to-end along the edge of a developed parcel of real estate so that storm water can run off into the boxes and temporarily accumulate therein. The system also includes a sheet of porous fabric or perforated sheet, attached to and covering a surface of the gabion boxes to restrict the rate of flow of storm water runoff flowing through the boxes and the sheet to a downstream storm drain, storm sewer or stream. The sheet may be formed of two or more layers of the porous fabric or perforated sheet.

Abstract: A non-clogging facility (10) collects debris and sediment carried by water flowing in an open channel (DC) upstream of an inlet (I) to a conduit. A first section (12) provides a transition from the open channel into a second section (13) which allows for collection of large debris and readily settleable sediment. A barrier (16) comprises a base (18) extending from a sidewall (W1) on one side of the channel, substantially across the width of the channel, toward the opposite sidewall (W2). An opening (20) is provided between the end of this barrier and the opposite sidewall. Water flowing at a low rate is diverted through the opening into a bypass channel (22) to flow to the inlet through a third section (14). At higher flow rates, water flows over the barrier and through a screen formed by a series of spaced posts (26) extending the length of the barrier. Sediment settles to a floor (F) of the channel upstream of the barrier and is blocked by the barrier from moving further downstream.

Abstract: A flexible membrane inflating structural body is fixed to a structure such as a bed and slope sides of a waterway by using a mounting metal fitting comprising a first metal fitting and a second metal fitting. The flexible membrane inflating structural body is erected by supplying a fluid to an interior of a flexible membrane, and is deflated by discharging the fluid within the flexible membrane. The first metal fitting is disposed at a side of the structure at which the flexible membrane inflating structural body is provided and contacts one surface of the flexible membrane. The second metal fitting contacts another surface of the flexible membrane and, together with the first metal fitting, sandwiches a portion of the flexible membrane in a vicinity of an outer peripheral edge of the flexible membrane. The first and second metal fittings, which form the mounting metal fitting, each include at least one convex portion which bends the flexible membrane while the flexible membrane is in a held state.

Abstract: This invention relates to generally to geosynthetic materials which can be used for earthen reinforcement, and more particularly to a novel geosynthetic material exhibiting less strain under an initial tensile load then presently available geosynthetic materials.

Abstract: A water dam includes a number of loading pallets arranged side-by-side and inclined outward from the water supported by supports. Membranes are placed on loading pallets and extend a distance in front of the pallets under the water. The membranes may be held down in the front edge by stones, sand bags, etc. initially to hold the membrane in place. The supports are triangular and made of U-shaped sheet metal beams. The one on which the pallets rest grips over the adjoining legs of two loading pallets to hold these together. To the rear the support is extended sufficient to secure that it cannot be tilted by the water. To achieve this and achieve a good grip on the ground the inclination is preferably 45.degree., resulting in great vertical forces on the ground, a good grip on the ground.

Abstract: The transportable, foldable protective barrier, especially against high water, contains a series of supports of supporting elements articulately joined with one another, a number of parallel pipe rods for the joining of the supports as well as a number of reinforcement filling elements for the bridging of the gaps between the pipe rods. The supports are unfolded into bracing triangles and joined with the pipe rods which span a plane which are completed by grids or panels as reinforcement filling elements. Over the supports and the reinforcement filling elements panels are laid in the event of (a need for) high water protection.

Abstract: A panel assembly to be used in an RCC dam structure, or the like, includes a precast concrete panel, a geomembrane liner extending over the full face of the panel and a geotextile sheet backing on the liner directly attached to the panel. The liner seals the panel against water leakage in a manner that allows shifting of the dam structure without placing undue stress on the liner or the interconnecting sealing strips. The geotextile sheet is preferably fabricated of a mat of non-woven polyester fibers and the geomembrane liner is preferably polyvinylchloride. The geotextile sheet is attached by hardened concrete slurry integral with the panel. Once the panel assembly is connected to adjacent panel assemblies by the sealing strip to form the dam structure, stress concentrations are relieved in the event that the panels shift for any reason.

Abstract: A portable, modular fluid-containment system is described which can be assembled anywhere to form a wall or dike for preventing fluids (e.g., water) from escaping from their intended location and for preventing flooding. The system uses individual collapsible modules which can be stacked in rows and columns, as desired. The modules overlap each other and are also interconnected so that a liquid such as water can be used to fill all of the modules to make them more stable and immobile.

Abstract: A ditch check includes a plurality of bodies that are located in two rows with a gap defined between the two rows. An M-shaped anchor has two legs and a central section, with one of the legs being located adjacent to one face of a body in one row and the other leg being located adjacent to one face of a body in the other row, and a central section that is located between the two bodies. Each row can include a plurality of end-to-end bodies which can be in overlapping relationship with each other. A tool for placing the M-shaped anchor into the ground is also disclosed.

Abstract: A mobile demountable flood barrier consists of individual stackable sections, the two longitudinal ends of which engage for securing purposes in a U-section arranged perpendicularly to the sections. The individual sections engage together by means of horizontal S-shape toothed projections on their upper side and lower side and thus transmit to their adjacent sections a part of the load caused by the pressure of the water which can act upon them.

Abstract: A water containment device and levee for impeding a flow of water. The water containment device includes a body portion having a first end, a second end, a base, and a first side and a second side attached to the base. At least one valve is disposed in the first end for introducing a water into the body portion. A flap is also provided that is integrally formed with the body portion and extends outward therefrom. The flap for receiving another water containment device thereon and impeding movement of the water containment device. The flap is also used to divert the flow of water away from the levee should the level of the water exceed the levee.

Abstract: A method for reducing water leakage through sandbag dikes is disclosed, wherein a bentonite or other clay mud slurry is applied to the sandbags. The mud slurry may further include a water loss reducing chemical and/or a water blocking material. The mud slurry may be applied to the river side of the sandbags and may be covered with a plastic sheeting before the river level reaches the sandbags. The mud slurry, and any included chemicals and/or water blocking materials(s), form a coating on both woven plastic fabric and cloth sandbags as well as sandbags of non-porous plastic for reducing water flow through and between the sandbags. The plastic sheeting also makes it feasible to repair the dikes after the sandbags have become submerged by the rising water. That is, hoses can be inserted between the sandbags and the plastic sheeting for injecting the mud slurry at points having excessive leakage.

Abstract: A device for building a berm to contain a leak or spill has a plurality of corner members each having an elongated member spaced there between. The elongated members are formed from a pliable strip having a vinyl housing and being filled with a foam material having shape retention properties. The elongated members are sized and cut at the workplace to form a berm of sufficient size to meet the present spill containment problem. Once the side members and corner members have been selected and arranged, they are secured to the building floor by a caulking compound. Strapping material can then be applied, if necessary, to seal the joints between the corner members and the side members of the berm.

Abstract: A one-piece plastic back brace for a ditch dam is shaped like the V of the ditch. It has a groove on the top back edge that engages a span pipe which is placed across the ditch. An apron is mounted to the span pipe before the back brace is engaged. The apron folds back over the back brace to form a dam.

Abstract: A roller compacted concrete (RCC) dam is formed from inverted T-shape face panels to produce a lower sloped profile and L-shape face panel to produce an upper vertical profile. The face panels have drain openings in their penetrating legs to communicate with drain fill lifts placed against the vertical rise of the face panels. RCC lifts are placed on the penetrating legs to lock the placement of these face panels. The drain openings provide terminal drainage for lift line seepage. The inverted T-shape face panel has both a protruding leg and a penetrating leg projecting into the RCC lift. The protruding leg is provided with a dowel for gripping and alignment that permits raising and lowering of the face panel and is received within a sleeve in the face panel therebelow.

Abstract: A mobile underflow spill recovery unit provides a barrier to pollutants floating in runoff water which otherwise finds its way into storm drains and streams. The mobile underflow spill recovery unit includes a dam disposed between limiting sidewalls, and a baffle spanning between the sidewalls above the dam. The baffle's lower limit extends below the height of the dam, forming a weir channel between the baffle and the dam. Floating pollutants become trapped against the baffle while hydraulic pressure allows subsurface stream water to flow through the weir channel and over the dam. In one embodiment, a plurality of portable emergency dam units may be bolted together and installed through a temporary dirt levee built across a flowing stream or ditch to capture pollutants spilled upstream. In another embodiment, the conventional curb-level inlet to a storm sewer catch basin is replaced by a surface grate which drops runoff water into a chamber buried adjacent the catch basin.

Abstract: An underground dam is formed of a water flow preventing wall for blocking a water permeable layer of soil to form a storing portion for storing underground water on an upper stream side relative to the water flow preventing wall. The water flow preventing wall has an opening, and an opening-closing device for opening and closing the opening is provided. Thus, the underground water on the upper stream side can be supplied to a down stream side through the opening.

Abstract: A method for installing expansion joints in concrete dams using a sealing device includes the steps of boring a hole in the dam intended for receiving the sealing device at a distance from water retained by the dam, installing the sealing device in the hole, and completing the expansion joint by cutting the dam on each side of the hole such that the hole communicates with the downstream side of the dam and with the water on the upstream side thereof. The cut is also made to communicate with the hole and thus with the sealing device. Second and third holes are bored before installing the sealing device in the first hole with the second and third holes overlapping on each side of the first hole. The sealing device comprises a tubular and elastic cell adapted to be inserted and installed in the first hole and includes reinforcements spaced from each other.

Abstract: A system for constructing underwater impermeable protective sheathings of hydraulic structures or parts of them. At least one reference line is provided on the surface area to be protected and a protective sheathing is constructed underwater by positioning and stretching impermeable sheet materials over the area, keeping one lateral edge of each sheet material parallely aligned to said reference line, and maintaining hydrostatic balanced conditions between the pressures on the front and rear faces of each sheet material; the sheets are afterwards watertight connected along their edges and anchored to the surface of the hydraulic structure by mechanical anchorage devices.

Abstract: A bulkhead for dry isolation of dam gates, the bulkhead comprising a plurty of tubular log members bound together to form a platform assembly adapted to float in a horizontal attitude on a water body surface. Water and air conduits are in communication with one or more of the log members to cause the platform selectively to move between the horizontal attitude and a vertical attitude in the water body, and selectively to reduce and increase buoyancy of the platform. A conduit and valve is disposed in one of the log members for selectively permitting flow of water from the water body through the bulkhead. The invention further comprises a method for isolating a dam gate from an adjacent body of water.

Abstract: A geosynthetic barrier adapted to deny wildlife access to contaminated seents (CS), includes a geocomposite (10) formed of a top layer (14) juxtaposed on a bottom layer (12) which is adapted to be placed on the sediments. The top layer includes a geosynthetic drainage matrix having a plurality of openings, and the bottom layer includes a geotextile having a plurality of openings (12H) formed so as to allow gases to escape from the contaminated sediments on which said geocomposite is placed. The openings in the bottom layer of the geosynthetic barrier have a size in the range up to 200 cm and are spaced apart on centers having a range of between 6 cm to 600 cm, for example. The geosynthetic drainage matrix may be a geonet, a geogrid or a geomesh, fabricated from polyethylene, polypropylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polystyrene, or high impact polystyrene.

Abstract: An underflow dam unit provides a barrier to pollutants floating in runoff water which otherwise finds its way into storm drains and streams. The underflow dam unit includes a dam disposed between limiting sidewalls, and a baffle spanning between the sidewalls above the dam. The baffle's lower limit extends below the height of the dam, forming a weir channel between the baffle and the dam. Floating pollutants become trapped against the baffle while hydraulic pressure allows subsurface stream water to flow through the weir channel and over the dam. In one embodiment, a plurality of portable emergency dam units may be bolted together and installed through a temporary dirt levee built across a flowing stream or ditch to capture pollutants spilled upstream. In another embodiment, the conventional curb-level inlet to a storm sewer catch basin is replaced by a surface grate which drops runoff water into a chamber buried adjacent the catch basin.

Abstract: A modular barrier system and component bags are provided characterized by the component bags being stacked in layers and interconnected to form a retaining wall. Each bag is constructed of a woven tubular sheet that has a rectangular shape when pressed flat. One end of the bag is sealed and the other end is left open to receive sand for filling. Dual elongated straps are bonded to the lower surface of the bag and extend over the side edges. The straps are positioned at 1/5 L, 2/5 L, 1/5 L spacing to be vertically aligned for easy interconnection when the bags are stacked to form the wall. The ends of each strap are folded back to form a loop that receives the strap/loop from a bag in the layer immediately above. The loops also function as handles that allow the bags to be easily lifted and carried.

Abstract: A barrier wall for containment of flood waters composed of multiples of modules which are easily transported to the site and erected without tools, by only a few persons with no special skills or training. Flexible coversheets, having foam seals which conform the modules to the ground and prevent flood waters from undercutting the ground and rendering the wall unstable are placed on the ground. Compartmented flexible ballast cell units are placed on the cover sheets just over the seals. The edges of the coversheets are coupled together as are the ends of the ballast cell units for continuity of the wail. The ballast cells can then be filled with water, sand, earth, gravel or other available material and the front portions of the cover sheets brought up and over the ballast cells to form a wall. An additional tier can be added to double the height of the wall.

Abstract: A sealing device for sealing an expansion joint cut in a concrete dam comprises a tubular cell made of an elastic material and provided at its upper and lower ends respectively with a rigid upper ferrule and a rigid and rounded lower ferrule. Cables are mounted between the upper and lower ferrules for preventing the longitudinal stretching of the cell. The cell includes two longitudinal reinforcements spaced one from another and disposed opposite the cut for preventing the radial deformation of the cell in the cut. A continuous peripheral space is defined on the cell between the lower ends of the reinforcements and the upper end of the lower ferrule to allow the cell to form a continuous peripheral seal against the walls of a hole bored along the expansion joint.

Abstract: A method is provided for the continuous production of sealing sheeting impervious to water and/or oil, in the case of which between a substrate layer and a non-woven material covering layer a swellable clay is needle punched in position, a swellable clay additionally strewn on the top side of the covering layer being at the same time incorporated in the covering layer. After this the swellable clay present in the covering is moistened and dried again. In accordance with a modified form of the invention use is only made of a substrate consisting of a non-woven material, a woven fabric, a knitted fabric and/or a film, the film being a synthetic resin film, a synthetic resin film reinforced with fabric or paper, and a large pored non-woven material or a non-consolidated intersecting fiber crimped non-woven material or a random fiber non-woven material on which the pulverulent swellable clay is strewn, incorporated by needle punching, moistened and dried.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a water barrier fabric, in flexible or rigid form, and articles manufactured thereby, formed by dispersing a water-absorbent material, in powdered or granular form, among a mass of fibers during the formation of a loose mat of said fibers, to homogeneously disperse the powdered or granular water-absorbent material above, below and on each side of the fibers forming the mat, and thereafter densifying and structurally consolidating the mat, to secure the fibers in position surrounding and entrapping the water-absorbent material, such as by sewing, quilting, needle punching or otherwise bonding the fibers into a consolidated, structurally secure fabric at least partially filled with the powdered or granular water-absorbent material. In a preferred embodiment, one, or both, major surfaces of the fabric is coated with a water-insoluble adhesive to substantially increase the tensile strength of the fabric and to prevent shifting of fibers when installed on sloping surfaces.

Abstract: A spill control cabinet for use in an offshore oil well drilling environment includes a structural frame that can be transported by lifting (using crane or forklift) and wherein a cabinet is formed on the frame having an interior. Articles are contained within the cabinet. Drums can be contained outside the frame on supports for containing absorbent materials used in spill control (oil and chemicals). The cabinet can contain a vacuum system for suctioning a spill and a foam dispensing system for containing spills.

Abstract: A multi-layer article of manufacture includes an intermediate layer of a water-swellable colloidal clay, such as bentonite, sandwiched between two layers of flexible sheet or fabric material wherein the two flexible layers of sheet or fabric material are structurally interconnected through the intermediate clay layer, such as by needle punching, after lubrication of the clay surface with a liquid, such as water, to interconnect fibers of one fabric layer to the other fabric layer at spaced locations over essentially the entire inner surface areas of both sheet or fabric material layers. In a preferred embodiment, a water-insoluble adhesive is applied to at least one of the fabric layers to lock the interconnecting fibers in place and substantially increase the structural integrity, particularly the shear strength, of the article.

Abstract: A multi-layer article of manufacture includes an intermediate layer of a water-swellable colloidal clay, such as bentonite, sandwiched between two layers of flexible sheet or fabric material wherein the two flexible layers of sheet or fabric material are structurally interconnected through the intermediate clay layer, such as by needle punching, after lubrication of the clay with a liquid, such as water, to interconnect fibers of one fabric layer to the other fabric layer at spaced locations over essentially the entire inner surface areas of both sheet or fabric material layers.

Abstract: A levee gate and the process for the production thereof. The levee gate of the invention includes a rectangular sheet of thermoplastic material with a rectangular sleeve located on one edge of the thermoplastic material, the rectangular sleeve being a portion of the rectangular sheet fused to the rectangular sheet. The process for the production of the levee gate includes extruding a cylindrical tube of thermoplastic material, inflating the cylindrical tube as it is extruded to provide an inflated length of tube, flattening the inflated length of tube without fusing the opposed walls of the tube to each other, and continuously fusing a portion of the opposed walls together to form a seam.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a water barrier fabric, in flexible or rigid form, and article manufactured thereby, formed by dispersing a water-absorbent material, in powdered or granular form, among a mass of fibers during the formation of a loose mat of said fibers, to homogeneously disperse the powdered or granular water-absorbent material above, below and on each side of the fibers forming the mat, and thereafter densifying and structurally consolidating the mat, to secure the fibers in position surrounding and entrapping the water-absorbent material, such as by sewing, quilting, needle punching or otherwise bonding the fibers into a consolidated, structurally secure fabric at least partially filled with the powdered or granular water-absorbent material.

Abstract: A water and/or oil-impermeable sealing mat is provided in form of a bentonite non-woven fabric combination with the possibility of transmitting shear from one batt layer to the other, i.e. on a slope shearing forces can be transmitted by the covering batt material through the layer of swellable clay into the supporting batt material. Such a sealing mat is a fiber-reinforced mineral seal permitting the transmission of shearing forces on slopes, without the risk of the layer of swellable clay itself becoming the preferred sliding plane. The sealing mat consists of a non-woven textile material as substrate layer, a layer of swellable clay, preferably sodium bentonite, and a cover layer consisting preferably also of a non-woven textile material, all three layers having been needlepunched together in the conventional manner in a needle loom. When moistened, the clay swells and forms the water and/or oil-impermeable layer.

Abstract: A levee gate and the process for the production thereof. The levee gate of the invention includes a rectangular sheet of thermoplastic material with a rectangular sleeve located on one edge of the thermoplastic material, the rectangular sleeve being a portion of the rectangular sheet fused to the rectangular sheet. The process for the production of the levee gate includes extruding a cylindrical tube of thermoplastic material, inflating the cylindrical tube as it is extruded to provide an inflated length of tube, flattening the inflated length of tube without fusing the opposed walls of the tube to each other, and continuously fusing a portion of the opposed walls together to form a seam.

Abstract: An article of manufacture including an elongate confined mass of a water-swellable clay for sealing joints or seams between adjacent water-barrier materials or for plugging defects or other unsealed areas adjacent to a water-barrier layer. The elongate, confined mass of water-swellable clay is manufactured in any desired cross-sectional shape or configuration e.g. circular, eliptical, rectangular, square, and the like and can be manufactured in roll form for dispensing individual confined masses of water-swellable clay individually. The water-swellable clay is confined within a layer of material that permits the entrance of water to contact the water-swellable clay for hydration of the clay, such as by being water-porous or water-soluble and such that upon sufficient hydration of the confined mass of water-swellable clay, the confining layer will dissolve sufficiently, burst or tear to permit relatively free movement of the hydrating and expanding water-swellable clay.

Abstract: An apparatus for containing liquids and pollution within a liquid drainage comprising a first conduit, a second conduit, a liquid barrier, a means for lifting, and a means for sensing pollution. The second conduit is smaller in relative diameter than the first conduit and is positioned so that the second conduit outlet end is located within the first conduit. The second conduit has a flexible portion of its length which permits the outlet end of the second conduit to be lifted while the inlet end of the second conduit remains stationary. The liquid barrier guides fluid flow into the second conduit inlet during normal flow, guides fluid flow into the second conduit and liquid flow over the top of the liquid barrier and into the first conduit during floods and retains liquid during normal flow when the outlet end of the second conduit is lifted. The apparatus further comprises a means for lifting which is electrically connected to a sensing means.

Abstract: A method and an assembly for protecting dams according to which dehydration of the dam body is obtained as a result of the differences in temperature between the concrete structure and a steam barrier defined by a water-proof protective sheathing. The condensation water and any seeping water is eliminated by means of a drainage channel system at atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A moveable flood barrier requires a permanent channel in the path of expected flood waters and is normally closed by a removeable cover. The barrier consists of a series of units dimensioned to be removeably seated in the channel and detachably interconnected. Each unit includes at least one panel disposed to face flood waters and a reenforcement to which the panel or panels are attached. The junctions between panels are sealed and seals extend lengthwise of the barrier and are secured to the panels thereto and detachably secured to the channel wall first in the path of the flood waters. Where required, a brace for each unit is detachably secured thereto and to a permanent normally covered socket on the leeward side of the channel.

Abstract: In general, confinement systems of barriers for use around oil or other storage tanks are expensive and/or difficult to install. A relatively simple protective barrier includes corrugated panels connected end-to-end to define an enclosure, a bar or cap mounted on the panels, a plurality of threaded rods for extending through the cap into the ground, an anchor for mounting on the bottom end of each rod, whereby, when the rod is pulled upwardly, the anchor engages the ground to hold the rod firmly in position, and a nut for mounting on each rod above the bar which can be tightened to push the bar and consequently the panels downwardly into the ground.